BE A PART

Let’s try and find another one of these! (RNS, $25,000, you know who it is)

Photo courtesy of Canadian Horse racing Hall of Fame

Start the buzz!
The sales grounds at Woodbine racetrack are busy with prospective buyers requesting long looks at some 300 yearlings, all Canadian-bred, selling this week.

Interesting to see the young ones by the new, fancy American stallions such as MUNNINGS (HIP 49), LINE OF DAVID (120, 154), DISCREETLY MINE, 220, TEMPLE CITY, 139, 141, and ESKENDERAYA (30), among others.

Canadian stallions to watch include MAST TRACK, PLAN, MARCHFIELD (was in Canada) and Queen’s Plate winner NOT BOURBON.

There are 19 Marchfield youngsters catalogued.

And still other interesting daddys are SHOWING UP, PHILANTHROPIST, OLD FORESTER, SLIGO BAY and the last group of BOLD EXECUTIVES!

In what has become a wonderful tradition at Fort Erie Race Track, a large crowd turned out to cheer on the winning connections of the Puss N Boots Cup.

In 1961, a horse by that name was running on the Fort Erie turf course and made a left hand turn coming down the stretch resulting in a very wet horse, rider and staff who rescued the animal from the infield pond. For many years now it has become tradition for the winning rider and trainer to jump into the same pond after the race is complete.

This season it was a much the best winner with the 8-year old son of A.P. Indy named Catch the Luck. Claimed by Kevin Buttigieg earlier in the summer, the gelding has found new life on the dirt track at Fort Erie. “I knew some of the best races of his life were on dirt and he has loads of back class so I claimed him at Woodbine,” said the young trainer.

In his first start for his new connections the gelding easily won a $10,000 starter allowance on Prince of Wales day under jockey Brad Wilson. His next start produced a second place effort in the local turf course. Today, the combo made it look easy winning in practically gate to wire fashion and pulling away to win by over 8 lengths.
“This horse is just that good,” said jockey Wilson. “It was as easy as it looked.”
Catch the Luck covered the mile and a sixteenth distance in 1:44. The race had originally been scheduled for the main track but as a result of heavy rain it was moved to the main track to protect the safety of the horses and riders.
Catch the Luck is owned by Kevin Buttigieg and Doug Snowden. He returned $5.30 to win. Woodbine shippers Village Drive and Kings Parade rounded out the top three.
Jockey Brad Wilson and Buttigieg’s assistant trainer Sarah Collicutt made the traditional leap into the infield pond; both opting for cannonballs.

Catch the Luck was claimed for $8,000 a few starts ago by Buttigieg.

Previously, the old timer was a $60,000 claim by Mike Pino from Sam-Son, a $32,000 claim by Ross Armata, a $32,000 by Frank Cirillo and Marty Drexler before dropping in for $8,000.

Photo below is of CATCH THE LUCK, bred by Sam-Son Farms, winner of the Puss N Boots Stakes which was taken off the grass. Michael Burns Photgraphy

HOLE IN ONE – FIVE IRON WINS SARANACIn contention for champion 3yo male in Canada.
American-bred 3yo FIVE IRON has won 3 stakes this year on Polytrack and grass and could give UP WITH THE BIRDS and the laid-up MIDNIGHT ARIA a run for the money for champion 3yo male.

Five Iron took the lead coming out of the gate and was never threatened as he rolled to a 2 ½-length victory in the Grade 3, $150,000 Saranac for 3-year-old turf horses on Sunday at Saratoga Race Course.

With Luis Saez in the irons, the Sharp Humor colt cruised through a quick opening quarter-mile in 22.97 seconds and a half in 46.76 as Joha and Frac Daddy gave chase through the early going. Sweeping three-wide into the stretch, Five Iron began drifting out but had plenty left to fend off the late challenge from favored Notacatbutallama, hitting the wire in 1:48.21 for 1 1/8 miles over a turf course rated “good.”

“The trainer [Brian Lynch] told me the horse has a lot of speed and to try to take the lead,” said Saez, aboard Five Iron for the first time. “The lead came easy to my horse so I let him run. Coming for home, I still had a lot of horse. When I saw Notacatbutallama coming, I knew we could hold him off. He gave me everything he had to win this race.”

The victory was the third straight and first in a graded stake for the Canadian-based colt, winner of the Victoria Park and Toronto Cup stakes in his two most recent starts at Woodbine. Owned by Fred Allor, he is now 4-2-1 from 11 career starts with earnings of $381,060.

“I knew if he could get the lead and get left alone, he’d be very dangerous,” said Lynch. “He’s a very determined horse. I’ve never had a horse prick his ears when he makes the lead like that and run into the bridle like he does. He’s a fun horse, and as he’s gotten older, he’s found his niche and become effective at it.”

Sent off at 5-1, Five Iron returned $12.80 for a $2 win bet. Photo of FIVE IRON by Coglianese photos

THUNDER ROLLS FOR PIRONE AND COOPER AND CARDELLA

SUNDAY AT WOODBINE

Joe Pirone’s homebred SAN NICOLA THUNDER posted a 23 to 1 upset in the Vice Regent Stakes yesterday, becoming the 2nd stakes winner for his dam San Nicola Flyer. Paul Cooper also owns ‘Thunder, a son of Silent Name (Jpn), who is a leading sire in canada.

The winner, who went from 50 and 60 Beyers to posting an 80 yesterday in the 1 mile grass race, has a half sister by Giant Gizmo in the sale on Tuesday, Hip no. 17.

In the Avowal Stakes, Danny Dion’s recently claimed filly PART THE SEAS won at 8 to 1 with an 86 Beyer Figure. The Stormy Atlantic filly was bred by Sam-Son Farms. The Bear was also third in the Avowal with the improving SCA DOODLE.

A HAPPY BEAR…maybe more spending tomorrow?

Danny Dion of Alberta won 2 stakes races this last week heading into the local yearling sales. Here he is with BEAR NO JOKE, a CTHS purchase in 2009 for $80,000 from James and Janeane Everatt and Erika Everatt Meeuse.

Speaking of the Bear, he has a whole collection of his own yearlings already, by his exciting young sire KENTUCKY BEAR. The stallion, by Mr Greeley, had his first winner recently in BEAR’S PRIDE.

Also, the Bear recently found, and bought back, BEAR’S KID, his first big stakes winner (Summer Stakes, 2005). The Lemon Drop Kid – Tap to Music stallion is at Colebrook Farms now to stand in 2014.

At one time he was a $12,000 mixed sale stallion prospect in Canada but then sold for $260,000 in 2010 in February to Novel Group…but it’s hard to know what happened to the horse after that.

Meanwhile, Dion found the horse and then was rewarded when a 2yo be had bought for $50,000 last year from JOHN CAREY, ASSERTING BEAR, won a maiden allowance on the grass in his 2nd career race recently.

Dave Landry photo

BEAR NO JOKE and his laughing owner, Danny Dion. Dave Landry photo

MARCO BE GOOD – 9yo recently retired

Graded stakes winner MARCO BE GOOD, by Bold ‘n Flashy, is in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, recently retired and looking for a home.

The 9-year-old won the Highlander Stakes and over $570,000 in his career. He raced up until last summer, 2012, for $5,000 claiming,

Good luck Marco!

RE-CAP FROM WEDNESDAY’S LIVE BLOGGING…

10:03 p.m. LOGAN’S PEAK bought back for $6,500 at the yearling sale 3 years ago..MARY ELLEN KENNEDY deserving winner as longtime breeder and owner…trainer Nick Gonzalez is happy for Logan’s Peak too…he’s going shopping next week..”the new models are out”!

9:57 – BOOM!! LOGAN”S PEAK a homebred for ME Kennedy and co-owned by D Menzies, trained by Nick Gonzalez, wins Algoma under the red hot Eurcio da Silva…4yo filly by Teuflesberg out of Yukon Lady by Saint Ballado was 4th in a Grade last time but had been racing for $40K claiming last year…DIXIE STRIKE off the board after traffic early – 6 to 1 on the winner..Tee Game was 2nd at 11 to 1

9:51 – ALGOMA will wrap up big night at Woodbine for owners and breeders and sellers of yearlings in this country, in particular Ontario…breeders and sellers have put in 2 years for this year’s crop of youngsters, let’s hope they get rewarded on Tuesday and next Saturday

9:36 p.m. John Ross – “You look at the pedigree and look at overall conformation, I have done it for a lot of year. I have bought 8 stakes winners out of the CTHS Ontario sale..” Thanks his assistant Ricky…

9:32 – GO GREELEY, 4 for 5 in his career, wins the SIMCOE STAKES by a nose over Spin the King, this 2yo colt is a grand boy by Horse Greeley – out of Orchids Halo by Smoke Glacken, bred by Laura Yates’ Shannon Farms..bought by Ross for JAM JAR for $40K. When Jam Jar’s Bud Reynolds passed away earlier this year,. Bud had instructions that Ross could take one of the horses..he took GO GREELEY. $360,000 in earnings now. Eurico da Silva rode.

9:28 – wild finish in the SIMCOE STAKES. rivals SPIN THE KING and GO GREELEY hit the wire together after 6 1/2 furlongs…

9:13 half siblings to Lexie Lou as well as ON RAINBOW BRIDGE, hip no 192 is an Old Forester colt out of Miss Deputy, the War Deputy mare who produced a very unlucky ‘Bridge (but already a 2 time stakes winner) to be sold by Osprey Stable through Mapleville Farm agent

9:06 LEXIE LOU, the 2yo filly, wins MUSKOKA STAKES and the real LEXIE LOU is in the winner’s circle with jockey Gary Boulanger and John Ross. Put blinkers on this filly, has made a difference. Ross bought her “she had real good conformation”..mare had not had any runners from 6 previous foals!

9:05 p.m. ON RAINBOW BRIDGE loses a big purse, drifted out badly in the stretch and the dream season continues for JOHN ROSS, owner and trainer of LEXIE LOU, who cost $5,500 at auction! She just won $120,000. By SLIGO BAY out of ONEEXCESSIVENITE by In Excess, bred by Paradox Farm and there is a half sister in the Tuesday yearling sale, hip no. 209, a filly by OLD FORESTER, great Canadian stallion, to be sold by Beth Hancock!

9:01 – Wild left handed whipping by Skye Chernetz aboard ON RAINBOW BRIDGE caused that 2yo filly to drift out badly in the stretch and impede LEXIE LOU…waiting for inquiry by stewards

8:38 p.m. VICKI PAPPAS, owner, breeder, LongRun founder, says “you don’t have to be a millionaire in this game to have success”, talking about SKYLANDER GIRL, who cost $3,500 and has won two stakes for Alex Patykewich….Muskoka coming up

8:29 : GOOD BETTER BEST wins his first stakes race for DICK BONNYCASTLE, Harlequin Ranches. Trained by Roger Attfield, this son of Best of the Bests (Ire) – Miss Crissy by Bold ‘n Flashy was sent hard to the lead in the 1 1/16 mile race, did not get lead as ULTIMATE DESTINY wanted it, chased and then ran down the big fave under Luis Contreras, great ride. Half brother, hip 191 on Tuesday night Woodbine sale, is a colt by MARCHFIELD, whose first exciting crop sell this year! Offered by Mike Byrne, agent.

8:04 EURICO DA SILVA picks up the mount on BEAR NO JOKE, gets a big bear hug from the Bear, Danny Dion…Trainer READE BAKER: ” I got a lot of chill in this race last year (no joke, his former horse Bear’s Chill won the Kenora last year)”..upset that Emma-Jayne Wilson taken off horse of ORC STEWARDS…says he “wouldn’t be here” if it was not for DANNY DION.

8:02 – BILL DIAMANT present the Kenora trophy to the Bear, the Bakers. Diamant is an owner/breeder and VP of the HBPA Ontario

7:56 p.m. Yowza, BLACK HORNET, predictably odds-on in the KENORA STAKES at 6 furlongs, goes 21 2/5, 43 3/5 and, well, way too fast and he was caught by one of my favourites BEAR NO JOKE! The winner is owned by BEAR STABLES, was a $75,000 yearling by and bred by the Everatt family in St Thomas.

Tough luck for EMMA-JAYNE WILSON who was listed to ride but a trip to Saratoga today led to her not being able to ride this son of It’s No Joke – Nithi by Wolf Power. The winner is actually related to last year’s winner Bear’s Chill, who was also in this race but was last.

Danny Dion, a great friend of racing and significant investor, not only sponsors a race on this card but perhaps may be shopping next week at the sale? Reade Baker has been the Bear’s longtime trainer. Bear No Joke is 5 for 15 in his career and he has won over $350,000.

7:40 p.m. SANDY HAWLEY hanging out at the private party for CTHS Ontario and famous singer ANDY KIM stops by to ‘rock me gently’..okay, never mind. Kim looks great, he is learning about racing, how cool is that. Says that he would name a horse SUGAR SUGAR.

Private party seems to be for sponsors of the big stakes races on this card and to get newcomers interested in the game, fashion show and horse talk, sounds liek a great idea……apparently no media invited.

7:33 DENNIS WINDSOR SAYS..rename the Halton Stakes to the MOBIL STAKES! Mobil won the race 3 years in succession and his son WELLOILEDMACHINE has won in 2 years straight! Too bad Mobil is not in Ontario anymore..he was sold earlier this year.

7:27 P.M. Christine and Dennis Windsor, who picked up WELLOILEDMACHINE 4 years ago for $15,000 because Christine groomed the sire Mobil celebrated another win by their sleek 5yo in the HALTON STAKES, picking up another $75,000. The Mobil – Sleek and Powerful by Sir Cat battled on the pace all the way, edged clear and held off champion Pender Harbour.

Nice return to riding for 2013 for JIM MCALENEY who rode the winner. Kevin Pasher came over with the Mike Keogh trainee. He was 9 to 2 over Pender Harbour at even money.

The winner was bred by John Kennedy.

There is a half brother to WELLOILEDMACHINE in the open session on Sept. 10, hip no. 244, bred by G. Cardwell. That colt is by new sire MAST TRACK, who stands at Adena Springs. Beth Hancock sells the yearling colt.

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